Snow on the slopes and tourists in the shops

Saturday

Jan 26, 2013 at 2:00 AM

Natural snow, icy lakes and a nip in the air are distinctly separating this winter's Hudson Valley tourism season from last year's, when more snow fell on a day near Halloween than in all of the winter months.

James Walsh

Natural snow, icy lakes and a nip in the air are distinctly separating this winter's Hudson Valley tourism season from last year's, when more snow fell on a day near Halloween than in all of the winter months.

To think winter tourism only means snow-related activities, though, would be to ignore the plethora of festivals, concerts and year-round pastimes that don't slow down just because the leaves left the trees.

"Shopping is still a very big attraction, even though it's after the holidays," said Susan Hawvermale, Orange County tourism director. "People who just want to get away will go to a bed-and-breakfast in Warwick, shop there and maybe at Woodbury Common. They'll go to Sugar Loaf. It's a nice cozy way to spend a weekend. It's like a winter break for adults."

Hawvermale refers to winter as "our shoulder season" between autumn and spring/summer. Fall's the busiest season of all in what's a $1 billion per year industry in the mid-Hudson and Catskills. Resorts and attractions bolster the regional economy by employing thousands of people throughout the year, as well as by purchasing local goods and services.

Outdoor recreation on Catskill public land and private land open to the public draw nearly 2.5 million people annually who support more than 2,400 jobs, according to a study commissioned by the Catskill Center for Conservation and Development, Catskill Mountainkeeper and Catskill Heritage Alliance. The study calculated those visitors and jobs have an economic impact of $114.7 million.

Recent days with temperatures in the teens help keep such activities as ice fishing and snowmobiling on the agenda of out-of-towners traveling to the region, and in turn boost businesses including restaurants, gas stations and tackle shops.

All-season resorts including the Rocking Horse Ranch Resort in Highland and the Mohonk Mountain House in New Paltz have been characterized as "tourism anchor stores" by Michael Smith, president of the New Paltz Regional Chamber of Commerce.

The Rocking Horse Ranch offers not only the expected winter activities, but an indoor water park where the mercury registers a toasty 85 degrees.

Mohonk Mountain House, a national historic landmark, bolsters its winter season with events such as this weekend's Scottish Weekend. Guests can immerse themselves in the music, arts, cuisine and drink of Scotland. Both day-trippers and overnighters can ice skate and traverse more than 30 miles of trails on snowshoes or cross-country skis all winter long.

Snowshoeing and cross-country skiing are also popular activities at Bear Mountain State Park just south of the Orange County line. Bear Mountain's ice rink attracts skaters from late October to mid-March, and the Trailside Museums and Zoo are open all year for those interested wildlife and geology.

Ski areas, including Belleayre Mountain and the Sawkill Family Ski Area in Ulster, Holiday Mountain in Sullivan, and Mount Peter and Tuxedo Ridge Ski Center in Orange, invariably draw people who also take in what the local scene has to offer.

Visitors to Holiday Mountain may be drawn to the Livingston Manor Rotarians' 54th annual Ice Carnival this weekend. Traditional features are skating exhibitions and races, snow and ice sculptures, and vendors of all sorts.

"No matter what weekend you choose, there's a lot to keep you busy," said Roberta Byron-Lockwood, president of the Sullivan County Visitors Center, as she ticked off the Wurtsboro Winterfest on Feb. 9, a series of concerts at Bethel Woods, and the Outdoor Sportsmen and Recreation Expo at Villa Roma in Callicoon scheduled for March 22-23, just as spring arrives.

Some new features on the Sullivan County tourism scene include weekly e-blasts about upcoming events from hcc@scva.net, which boasts more than 8,000 followers, and Trailkeeper.org, a site about hiking opportunities and safety.

Evidence of the symbiotic relationships between activities can be found where snow tubers gather at Orange County's Stony Ford Golf Course.

"The people are taking all of our travel guides," Hawvermale said. "We can't keep enough in stock. People aren't just going tubing. They're looking for other things to do in the county."

Ski areas draw visitors from surrounding counties, states and New York City, their operators say. The southernmost one, Tuxedo Ridge, occupies 100 acres surrounded by Sterling Forest, adjacent to the site of the annual Renaissance Fair.

Rows of rental skis are popular among travelers who reach the slopes by bus or train. Short Line buses bring skiers and their families from the Port Authority in Manhattan to Tuxedo Ridge's door. The ski center provides transportation from the Tuxedo train station for guests with reservations.

"Last year was tough," co-owner Robert Cannillo said of a winter in which people played golf through December. "We had a lot of snow — we made a lot of snow — but it wasn't on people's minds."

Now in its 51st year, Tuxedo Ridge employs about 400 people.

"We specialize in teaching people how to ski and snowboard," Cannillo said of what he described as a family-centric business.

Mario Jimenez and his son, Hudson, 4, of Jersey City, N.J., were having a quick lunch recently, before Hudson's first skiing lesson.

"We don't have to go all the way to Vermont to learn how to ski," Jimenez said as Hudson took a bite of his mini pizza.

Already on the slopes were Mikki Mickler and her nephew Vincent Daly of Stony Point. The 6-year-old held Mickler's hands as they sped to the foot of the mountain.

"Exciting," Vincent proclaimed of his first ski adventure.

"It's family friendly and close to home," Mickler said as they headed back to the ski lift.

In the warmth of the pub, Marla and Bruce Davis and their son, Cassion, 9, of Kinnelon, N.J., sat down to a leisurely lunch after a morning on the slopes. It was routine for Cassion, who first donned skis at age 3 at Lake Placid.

"Our ski club has a lodge in Vermont, but it's not always easy to get there," Marla Davis said.